Trigger-type gaseous blowtorch



May 2, 1950 w. A. sPARKs 2,506,114 TRIGGER-TYPE GAsEous LowToRcH Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR,

Patented May 2, 1950 .cuneo STA-Tas PATENT OFFICE A. IRIGGER-TYPE GASEOUSBLOW'IORCH Warren A. Sparks,-Long Beach, (ialitrassignor to John- M. Henry, Inglewood, Calif.

AlggplicationJulyv5, 1947, Serial No..759,065

(Cl. 15S-27.4)

- 211 claims.

vThis invention relatesto .asas burner or auto matic acetylene torch, anlmore particularlyto suoli eis-torch designed` to light a-strearn of Amixed a'irand acetylene .,ee'svon' .the snep of o trigger and in Aitsmore snQQQa-spects to .an improvement intheeas-air.mixingfandcontrolline .meehanismfor such atoroh While therehave'been hitherto proposed aceiylene' torches adopted V.to ignite o' proper mixture of acetylene gasand airupon .the ,soap of a trigger by the aotionoi;iiint on steel. these `devices have notmet with the. expeotedtrode eooepteiioe because ofz the fatthat'they'have not been adaptable to the various 'types of `flame desired in torches ofthis kind and because the gas-air'mixme mechanism has not been readily removable for replacement with' mechanism more suitable for the various operations desired.

' Itgisa"urther lobject of this'- invention to facilitate assembly and disassembly -ofsuch `torches and Icmxs'equently to render their manufacture more'leconomical. v

`l It is a'furth'er objectief this invention to provide such aftorch-which automatically lights the lamelon the snap offtih'e trigger, automatically extnguishesthe flame on release of 'the trigger, is simple, light and :.durableiof construction, and by nreason vof its' "easily replaceable lcombustion tubes ls equally adaptable for soldering, silver soldering.- rne" 'lightj'orazing,A or lead bum-ing.

Further -objeots and I advantages v lwill Y be' apparent-from the annexed specication, in'whic'h:

. Figure .1 is a side View,rmstly insection along ari-vertical line, of a torchembodyingthe present invention and l VFigurel2 isan enlarge'dsectiou taken along the Iine'Z--Z of Figure 1.

ffReferriug now more -1 particularly Vto the drawings, there-is shownv an acetylene torch including a. body l which mayjb'edie-,cast and is gerie'rally composed of two piecesfonesbeing las shown in section .in Figure 1 and iniprootee continuing beyond theisection line kslightly beyond the midline'o'fithe body Vand the other. a 'complementary portion, not shown. 'adapted to .Joe seouredfto the 'irst after-assembly ,of the remainder of .the torch by'means of therlvets shown.

' a hollow interior I3 and extends upwardly toforrn' may be aiiixed in .thefholloyv interior lf3 of the.

pistol grip i2 by ,a close Afit in an aperture 2-2 formed in ythe butt plate/2,3 .secured to ihe'shoul.- der 2li formedin vthe'lciwernigzsst end of thepistol grip I2. The end'ofthestube 2l extending downward through the 'butt Plate 23 is serrated as Aat to receive a gas hose 26 which may-lead to any suitable source of`v acetylene gas under pressure.

A lateral bore 2 8 is'iormed in the portion i4 of the body HJ and is'tapped as'at 3c to receive the threaded portion 3| y'of a valve coverscr-ew 32. VThe valve cover screw 32 is oounterbored as at 33 to receive one end of a valve spring 35. The valve cover screw 32 has arl-enlarged head-36 providing-ashoulder against-which is held'a rubber gasket 31 preventing leakage of gas through the Valve cover -screw when securely seated in the bore 33. The boreZB is beveled as at 38 to form aseat for thegasket'Sl -for this purpose. The valve cover screw 32 vis vreduced as at 49 and'again at 4l andthe reduced portion Vil forms '.{Ihe ,body l0 ...includes @..pistol ,grip l2 having sa a shoulder against which abuts vthe end ofa valve housing 43. The valve housing -43 has-an outer diameter less-:than the interior-diameter of the bore 33, is bored as-at44vand isprovidediwith a Ismaller communicating bore 45. Avalve stem 4l is provided-in the bore-45 and has a valve memberl formed thereon Vbevond which the valve stern 4l extendsy into the bordell, forming a receiving post for the other end of the valve spring 34. Between the valve member 48-ar`1d the end of the bore-'44 is positioned a-rubber gasket 49. The valve-housing IIl? is provided with a groove 5I irl-which is'seated a rubber vO ring 1152 and a semicircular groove 5 3 --ormed on the housing 43. A hole 154 is drilled-diametrically through the housing-43 inthe center of vthe groove 53v and communicating withthe bore 45, Furthermore, the valve stem 41 has an-outer diameter slightly less tha-nthe inner-'diameter of the bore The valve housing yis also provided Withone ormore holes drilled- 'through the 'housing opposite theclosed position ofthe valve member and communicating the bore l'l with bores c4 vand 45 when the valve member 48 is `in open pQSilQp-f The 'valve housing 43 has a dishes end 515 bearing against orubber diaphragme? which. .is seated 1in the endofthefbore. Ailoor.e'i is. formed .in the body l0 aligned with the .boren and a valve plunger 59 is positioned therein with its inner end bearing on the rubber diaphragm 51. The outer end of the valve plunger 59 extends into the trigger-receiving portion I6 of the body I0 and abuts a toggle bar 60. The toggle bar is channel-shaped and is pivoted on a rivet 6I in the trigger-receiving portion I6. A trigger 63 is pivoted on a rivet 64 and is also generally channel-shaped providing a channel 65 in which lies one end of a single coil trigger spring B6. The coil 61 of the spring 66 may extend partially into the channel in the toggle bar 50 as shown, and the walls of the trigger are extended laterally opposite the toggle bar B0 forming a trigger cam 08 engaging said toggle bar. The other end of the trigger spring 66 is bent downwardly as at E9 and engages the rear wall 10 and upper wall 1| of the trigger-receiving portion I6 of the body I0.

A notch 12 is ground in the upper portion of the trigger 03 which is adapted to be engaged by the rear end of an actuating bar 13. The actuating bar 13 extends out of the body I0 and is pivoted on a pin 14 in the channel-shaped extension 15 of the muzzle 16.

The forward wall of the trigger-receiving portion I6 is formed by a pair of spaced walls, one only of which, numbered 11, is shown, and the rearward edges of these walls are disposed at an obtuse angle to the upper wall 1| forming an inclined plane against which bears the beveled forward end of a Washer 18. The Washer 18 is positioned on the actuating bar 13, and a coiled compression spring 19 is also positioned on the actuating bar having one end biased against the washer 18 and the other end biased against a, pin 80 in the actuating bar 13. A trip pin 8| is provided in the trigger-receiving portion I0 which also serves as a trigger stop.

A bore 82 is formed in the upper portion I4 of the body I0 which bore communicates with the groove 53 in the valve housing 43. A lateral bore 83 is formed in the upper portion i4 communicating with the bore 82, and an indexing pin 84 traverses the bore 83 as indicated. The bore 83 'Ls enlarged as at 85 forming a shoulder 85. A tubular draw nut bearing 38 is mounted in a bore 89 aligned with the bore 83, and a draw nut 90 is mounted thereon lying in an enlarged portion 9| of the bore 83. The upper portion |4 of the body adjacent the draw nut 90 is relieved as at 92 for access to the draw nut 90 by the fingers of the operator. The draw nut 90 has a rearwardly extending iiange 93 which is provided with female threads 94.

The draw nut bearing 88 extends beyond the end of the upper portion I4 of the body and forms a guide for a lateral bore 35 formed in the muzzle 18. The muzzle 16 is provided with a muzzle bushing 95 positioned in the bore 95 and the outer end of the muzzle bushing 96 is threaded as at 91 to receive the female threads 99 of the name nozzle 99. A combustionl `tube |00 is provided which is adapted to be received inthe bushing 96, the draw nut bearing 88, the draw nut 90, and the bore 83. The combustion tube |00 has a portion cut away as at IBI, and in the upper portion of the combustion tube 00 opposite the cutaway portion |0| a serrated hard steel strip |02 is riveted.

The combustion tube 100 has a plurality of air intake holes |03 formed therein, and the rearward end of the combustion tube is threaded as at |04 for engagement with the female threads 94 of the draw nut 90. The combustion tube |00 is provided with an indexing tube |05, one end 4 |06 of which has a portion cut away to underlie the indexing pin 84 when in position. The indexing tube |05 is provided at its forward end with a metering jet |01 which metering jet has its nozzle lying substantially in the plane of the rearward edges of the air intake holes |03. A rubber Washer |08 is provided on the rearward end |06 of the indexing tube |05 and abutting therearward end of the combustion tube. The rubber washer |08 is thus adapted when in position to engage the shoulder 86. The muzzel 16 is provided with a pair of air intake holes I0 and I, and the upper portion I4 of the body is provided with an air intake hole ||2 aligned with the hole when the muzzle is in the rearward position, as shown in Figure 1.

The muzzle 16 has a downward extension ||3 which has a bore I4 the upper end ||5 of which is reduced and tapped to form the threads ||8. A flint channel ||1 is provided in the bore ||4 and carries a rubber gasket IIB adapted to seat on the shoulder formed by the reduced bore ||5. The iiint channel ||1 has a reduced and externally threaded portion ||8 adapted for engagement with the threads |I6.' The flint channel I |1 is provided with an upper tubular extension |20 and the flint channel |I1 is also provided with an internal bore |2| in which liesa coiled spring |22 one end of which will abut the flint |23 and the lower end of which will abut the upper end |24 of a iiint tension screw |25 which is received in an enlarged and internally threaded bore in the ilint channel II1.

While there has been indicated a particular combustion tube |00 having a particular metering jet |01, it will be appreciated that the invention is adapted for a plurality of such interchangeable combustion tubes each designed for its particular type of flame best suited for its particular type of operation, such as soldering, silver soldering, iine light brazing, or lead burning. In the event that the operator wishes to change combustion tubes, it is necessary rst to withdraw the flint |23 and flint channel ||1 which is done simply by unscrewing the ilint channel by means ofthe knurled knob |26. Next the operator removes the ame nozzle 99 simply by unscrewing it from the muzzle bushing 88 by means of the knurled portion |21. When this operation is completed, the operator then unscrews the draw nut 90 forcing the combustion tube |00 forwardly until the combustion tube is freed of the draw nut entirely and may be simply pulled out of the muzzle bushing. This sequence of operations may be then reversed with any particular one of the interchangeable combustion tubes desired, thus readily adapting the gun for a specific intended use without the necessity of using any tools whatsoever. y

The operation of the gun is as follows: With,l the gun assembled and having the combustion tube desired for the particular operation, the operator depresses the trigger 63.` The depressing of the trigger 63 ycauses the ca m 88 to rock the toggle bar 60 in a clockwise direction, thus forcing the valve plunger 59 rearwardly. TheV valve plunger 59 engages the rubber diaphragm 51 which in turn engages the valve stem 41 and presses it rearwardly against the force of the valve spring 34. As this is done the valve member 48 uncovers the hole 55 and permits gas from the hose 26 and the tube 2| to enter the bore 45, the hole 54, the groove53 and the bore 82. From there the gas is communicated to the bore 83 and the metering jet |01 and intothe 5 combustion I'tube 100; Air will beffmixedwith the gaslthrough--air intakefholes 103, H0, IH, -and I'-"|2,-andthe combustible mixture ofY air andfgas willpa'ss through theV combustion tube and past thefflint-'i23 and steel |02 becoming ignited by the 'actic'n'of "the iiint and steel as. hereinafter described, 'after wh-ich'the iiame issues through the flame nozzle 99. q

- When the trigger 63 is-depressed as aforesaid, the lupper portionfthereof having thev notch 12 is moved ina Vclockwise direction,`thus forcing the-actuating bar I3 iorwardly'until the notch F2-'approaches the trip pin 8l. At this point'the actuatingfbar 'I3 is forced free of the notch 'l2 an'dthefmuzzlef'l is snapped into the rearward position" under the force of the coiled spring 19. Thiss'nap action causes the flint l23 to be 'scraped forcibly 'against the steel `|02 thus causing Van igniting'spark. The inclined plane formed by the'walls, one of which 11 is shown, and the beveled-end of the washer 18 causes a component Aof the force of the spring vI9 to exist biasing the actuating arm in a counterclockwise direction, 'thus causing the rearward end of the actuating arm 'I3 to seek to re-engagethe notch 12 on the trigger as soon as'the trigger is released.

It will be apparent that the gas supply will continue and'thus the 'flame will continue to burn asfiong as'the trigger 63 is depressed, and in order to avoid the necessity of the operator continually exerting force to depress the trigger 63 a trigger lock |30 is provided in the form of a hook pivoted from the body I0 which can be hooked around the trigger 63- to holdit inthe depressed position. When the trigger "63 is released, the valve s'pringj34 `will cause `the 4valve .member 48 t0 close, thus shutting off the supply of gas and extinguishing the ame.

The upper 'portion I4 yofthe body may be provided'vvith a bore I3| threaded as at E32 to receive a plug |33 thus forming a chamber for the-retension of spare lints 34.

' While 'there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it lwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention, and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.51'. An acetylene vtorch comprising a, body memb'erhaving a pistol grip, gas passage meansin saidibody member .and .a valve' disposed in one oizsaid' passages, a triggeroperatively connected to said valve to open said valve on pulling of said trigger, said trigger having Ia, snap action, a sealed upper body member having gas passages communicating with said rst mentioned gas passages, a draw nut mounted in said upper body, a removable combustion tube mounted in said upper body and drawn into fluid-tight seal therewith by said draw nut, air inlet passage means in said upper body member and said combustion tube, a muzzle mounted on said combustion tube, flint-carrying means mounted in said muzzle, a striker mounted in said combustion tube and engageable by said flint, and means for moving said muzzle relative to said combustion tube on the snap of said trigger to strike a spark from said flint and ignite said torch.

2. An acetylene torch comprising a body member having a pistol grip, gas passage means in said body member and a valve disposed in one of said" passages, a I trigger v operativelyf'connected to said A'valve to opensaid valve on `pulling offsaid. trigger, .said trigger 'having va snap -actionpa' sealed upper .body member havingV gas. passagesv communicating with "said Aiirst mentioned gas passages,a removable combustion tube'mounted:

in said upper body and means for drawing @said combustion tube into fluid-tight seal withfsaid upperbo'dy, air inlet passage meansl in said upper body member and said combustion tube, a muzzle mounted on said combustion tube, dint-carry.;

ing means mounted .in said muzzlaa striker mounted in saidcombustion tube and engageable by said flint, and means for moving said .muzzle relative to said combustion tube on the snap-nf said trigger to strike a spark from said iiint and' ignite said torch.

3. vAn acetylene .torch comprising a body' mem-1 ber'having a pistol grip, gas passages means`in said body member and a valve disposed fintone' of said passages, a trigger operatively connected to-said valve to open said valve Yon pulling of said trigger, said trigger having a snap action, asealed' upper body .member having gas passages .come municating with said rst mentioned 'gasgpass sages, a draw nut mounted in said upper body-za removable combustion tube lmounted in said upper 'body and drawn into fluid-tight seal there. with by said draw nut, a gas jet in said combustion tube, air inlet passage means in saidupper body member and said combustion tube,a muzzle mounted on said combustion tube,'int,xcarry;, ing means mounted in lsaid muzzle, `a striker mounted in said combustion tube and engageable by said int, and means for moving said muzzle relative to said combustion' tube on the snap Aof said trigger to strike a, spark from said'flint and ignite said torch.

4. An acetylene -torch comprising a body-mem,- berv having a pistol grip, gas passage meansr in said 'body member and 'a valve disposed in ione of said passages, a trigger operatively connected to said valve to ,open said valve on pulling ofsaid trigger, said trigger having a snap action, a sealed upper body member having gas passages communicating with said iirst mentioned gas passages, la removable combustion tube mounted in vsaid upper 'body and means for drawing said combustion tube into Huid-tight sealv'with-said upper 'body,.a gas jet in said combustion tube, air inlet passage means in said upper body mem? ber and said-"combustion tube, ,a muzzle mountedzon said combustion tube, flint-carrying Ameans mounted lin said muzzle, a striker mounted :in said combustion tube-'and engageable by said fiint,andmeans for kmoving said muzzle relatiye to said combustion tube on the snap of said trigger to strike a spark from said iiint and ignite said torch.

5. An acetylene torch comprising a body member having a pistol grip, gas passage means in said body member and a valve disposed in one of said passages, a trigger operatively connected to said valve to open said valve on pulling of said trigger, said trigger having a snap action, a sealed upper body member having gas passages communicating with said first mentioned gas passages, a draw nut mounted in said upper body, a removable combustion tube mounted in said upper body and drawn into fluid-tight seal therewith by said draw nut, a gas jet in said combustion tube, air inlet passage means in said upper body member and said combustion tube, said air inlet passages being normally disposed in a plane adjacent said gas jet, a muzzle mounted on said combustion tube, Hint-carrying means mounted in said muzzle, a striker mounted in said combustion tube and engageable by said flint, and means for moving said muzzle relative to said combustion tube on the snap of said trigger to strike a spark from said flint and ignite said torch.

6. In an acetylene torch of the type comprising a body, gas passage means in said body, and a valve in said body adapted to be actuated by a trigger, the improvement comprising: ay horizontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a removable combustion tube mounted in said horizontal bore, means for drawing said removable combustion tube into fluid-tight seal with said bore, a muzzle telescopically mounted on said combustion tube, said muzzle having an aperture, flint-carrying means mounted in said aperture, a striker mounted in said tube engageable by said flint, and means defining air intake apertures in said upper body and said combustion tube.

' 7. In an acetylene torch of the type comprising a body, gas passage means in said body, and a valve in said body adapted to be actuated by a trigger, the improvement comprising: a horizontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a, removable combustion tube mounted in said horizontal bore, a draw nut mounted in said upper body adjacent said bore and adapted to draw said combustion tube into fluid-tight seal with said bore, a, muzzle telescopically mounted on said combustion tube, said muzzle having an aperture, dint-carrying means mounted in said aperture, a striker mounted in said tube engageable by said flint, and means deiining air intake apertures in said upper body and said combustion tube.

8. In an acetylene torch of the type comprising a body, gas passage means in said body, and a valve in said body adapted to be actuated by a trigger, the improvement comprising: a horizontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a removable combustion tube mounted in said horizontal bore, a gas jet in said combustion tube, means for drawing said removable combustion tube into fluid-tight seal with said bore, a muzzle telescopically mounted on said combustion tube, said muzzle having an aperture, flint-carrying means mounted in said aperture, a striker mounted in said tube engageable by said ilint, and means defining air intake apertures in said upper body and said combustion tube.

9. In an acetylene torch of the type comprising a body, gas passage means in said body, and a valve in said body adapted to be actuated by a trigger, the improvement comprising: a horizontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a removable combustion tube mounted in said hori-` zontal bore, a gas jet in said combustion tube, a: draw nut mounted in said upper body adjacent zontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a removable combustion tube mounted in said horizontal bore, a gas jet in said combustion tube,

means for drawing said removable combustiontube into fluid-tight seal with said bore, a muzzle telescopically mounted on said combustion tube, said muzzle having an aperture, flint-carrying means mounted in said aperture, a striker mounted in said tube engageable by said flint, and means defining air intake apertures in said upper body and said combustion tube normally disposed in a plane adjacent said gas jet.

11. In an acetylene torch of the type comprising a body, gas passage means in said body, and a valve in said body adapted to be actuated by a trigger, the improvement comprising: a horizontal bore in the upper body of said torch, a removable combustion tube mounted in said horizontal bore, a gas jet in said combustion tube, a draw nut mounted in said upper body adjacent said bore and adapted to draw said combustion tube into fluid-tight seal with said bore, a muzzle telescopically mounted on said combustion tube, said muzzle having an aperture, flint-carrying means mounted in said aperture, a striker mounted in said tube engageable by said flint, and means dening air intake apertures in said upper body and said combustion tube normally disposed in a plane adjacent said gas jet.

WARREN A. SPARKS.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,420,107 King June 20, 1922 1,463,518 Thomas July 31, 1923 1,798,195 Dreibelbis Mar. 31, 1931 2,365,379 Black Dec. 19, 1944 

